B.C. battled adversity

British Columbia skip Kelly Scott celebrates her shot with third Sasha Carter during their draw against Manitoba in the page playoff game at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts curling championship in Red Deer, Alberta Feb. 24, 2012. (REUTERS/Todd Korol)

CON GRIWKOWSKY, QMI Agency

After a harrowing win over Manitoba’s Jennifer Jones in the 1-2 game, Kelly Scott is enjoying being in her position.

The team has gone through a lot this week and having a day off was relief in itself.

Considering how the team had to adjust in mid-week as third Sasha Carter battled the flu bug for two days, it’s nothing short of miraculous they somehow got into Sunday’s final.

Being a two-time Scotties champion has given Scott a different perspective and an ability to fight through the adversity that would have devastated lesser teams.

“We’ve gone through so many things,” said Scott, the event’s winner in 2006 and world champion in 2007. “We’ve been through the young and hungry stage and it was exciting. Then we wanted to defend and prove we deserve this Maple Leaf.

“We won bronze at the worlds and we wanted that gold medal. We did that.

“Then, it was about fighting to say on top, and we felt that slipping many times out of desparation with children and everything.”

The mind-set this time is different.

“We’re building again and it’s exciting, the climb up to the top,” said Scott. “It’s kind of like a full circle starting over again. Looking back when we won our first two, it was craziness and excitement. Now, it’s stay strong and stay composed.”

SLIP SLIDIN’

Another potential disaster averted.

This time it was Alberta second Jessica Mair that went for a slide.

With Alberta hanging onto a tenuous lead in the 3-4 game, Mair pushed down and fell in front of skip Heather Nedohin’s first rock in the 10th end.

Fortunately, disaster was averted when lead Laine Peters quickly propped up Mair with her broom, then pushed her out of danger.

Then, Nedohin said ‘safe’ as she gave the baseball safe sign for a slide.

Earlier in the week, Peters was unable to dodge a rock.

“That slide was scary, actually,” said Mair. “I hit a farts dempere as Laine did. My one focus was ‘don’t hit the rock.’ It was slo-mo in my mind.

“In my mind it was ‘Laine, get me out of here.’ She pushed me out of the way, it was great.”

Nedohin was impressed with Peters’s presence of mind.

“Good thinking on her behalf,” said Nedohin. “We’ve been working on this new sweeping technique and we’ve had lots of falls.”

The team had been working on their technique with Marcel Rocque, who gained some noteriety during his time with the Ferbey Four.

“He told us there was several times he’s had to kick (husband) David out of the way for falling, or Scott (Pfeiffer),” said Nedohin. “David did bite it more than Scott.

“You’re pushing the limits all the time. Honestly, heads up to Laine to give her the boot. Two minutes for checking and we’ll take it.”

RING IT UP

The ring is the thing.

That’s why Quebec skip Marie-France Larouche figures it would be good if her team won Sunday morning’s bronze-medal game.

Larouche was bumped into the game when she lost the 3-4 game to Alberta’s Heather Nedohin.

“Brenda (third Nichols) wants her jewellery, so that’s what we will try to do,” said Larouche. “The bronze medal, for us, is big. For sure, we will be ready for that.”

Winners of the bronze-medal game, instituted last year, get a ring with an emerald in it.

Larouche put down her loss to Nedohin to a case of rookie jitters.

“Maybe it’s the stress because we were always a little fast (heavy),” said Larouche. “At the beginning of our game, we struggled. After that, we played great shots. We had to be more ready at the beginning of the game.”

Larouche lost the final when the Scotties was last held in Red Deer in 2004 and has made the playoff round five times in her six appearances.

“It’s very disappointing because we know we are able to beat this team,” said Larouche, who had beaten Nedohin in the 1996 Canadian junior round-robin and this week in their only two previous meetings.

Larouche said she’s happy with this lineup.

“We will try to stay together because we love each other and we make a great team, but we don’t know yet because I have a baby, so I don’t know how it will be next year. For sure, if I play, I will play with these girls.”